From The Barn

Back by popular demand: “On Giving Thanks”

Posted on 26. Nov, 2009 by JF.

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I originally wrote this last Thanksgiving. My fiance thought I should resurrect it for today. She is in charge of the sweet potatoes today, which includes, of course, marshmallow distribution. Needless to say, this is a small sacrifice to make, infinitely smaller than giving up marshmallows on the sweet potatoes. Luckily, everything that I wrote [...]

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Williams Arena’s floor is for sale

Posted on 18. Jun, 2009 by JF.

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Not a bad thing to hang on the wall, but for historical purposes, I would strongly encourage you to mount it in a coffee table, just to be authentic. Unfortunately, the fine folks at the athletic department haven’t yet learned how to sell things on-line, so you’ll have to deal with an actual person. As [...]

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A win to get in

Posted on 06. Mar, 2009 by JF.

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Golden Gophers vs. Michigan Wolverines 11:00 am (CST) at Williams Arena (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Radio: WCCO 830 AM TV: ESPN Tickets: Long gone Chatroom: Yes, chat early and often The Michigan Perspective: UMHoops.com It has been five months and thirty games since the season started. After twists, turns, peaks, valleys, miracle comebacks, epic failures, injuries, shocking [...]

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For real? Gophers riding high after beating Cavaliers

Posted on 04. Dec, 2008 by JF.

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Obviously some time has passed since the Gophers won on Tuesday against the Virginia Cavaliers. Just as obvious is the fact that I haven’t yet written anything until now. My apologies. The game ended very late, and I decided to be selfish and sleep before writing anything. I was planning to write last night, but [...]

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Sampson III to take on father’s alma mater as Gophers face Virginia

Posted on 01. Dec, 2008 by JF.

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University of Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Virginia Cavaliers 8:30 pm (CST) at Williams Arena Radio: WCCO 830 AM Tv: ESPN 2 Tickets: Row 11, center court in the upper deck Liveblog: A live chat will be open about 3 hours before the game The fact that the Ralph Sampson III’s father played for Virginia is not [...]

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On Giving Thanks

Posted on 27. Nov, 2008 by JF.

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As the nation pauses for a day to remember all that we have, we as Minnesotans, students, alumni, and Gopher fans also have plenty to be thankful for. However, instead of pointing out the obvious (except one exception), I’d like to draw your attention to unsung, rarely noticed people, places, and things that make attending [...]

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Hey Skeeter, it is time to kill Zombie Nation

Posted on 13. Sep, 2008 by JF.

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Skeeter, if you are wondering, is the esteemed band director at Gopher Basketball games, and Zombie Nation is not the slightly less esteemed Penn State blog, but the over-used, over-played and overly-annoying technoeurotrash song that you have heard if you have been anywhere near a sporting event in the last few years. It is “Who [...]

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Coaches have their work cut out for them as Gophers take on the Spartans

Posted on 20. Jan, 2008 by JF.

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Its a good things that Minnesota and Michigan State each have one of the elite coaches in the country, because both teams are in need of a pep talk. Tubby Smith will need to tell the Gophers to focus on how close they came to beating the two best teams they have faced this season, [...]

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D.J. White doesn’t let the Hoosiers lose, but they sure tried

Posted on 19. Jan, 2008 by JF.

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The Barn is definitely back. After a hiatus of decade (with occasional brief glimpses of what it once was) Williams Arena returned to form as one of the toughest places to play in all of college basketball. The lobby was filled an hour and a half before game time, the student section was full 45 [...]

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The Barn was built for big games on cold nights

Posted on 16. Jan, 2008 by JF.

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There was a time when “The State of Hockey” would pause their collective poke checking, often because it was too cold outside, and gather in living rooms around Minnesota to listen or watch their beloved Gophers take on their opponents in one of the best basketball enviroments in the country. Basketball never has and never [...]

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An open letter to The Barnyard

Posted on 08. Nov, 2007 by JF.

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It wasn’t so much the noise, but the shaking. When Williams Arena was at its best, and therefore its loudest, the building would vibrate to a frightening degree. Fans would pound and kick the pillars and exposed pipes, creating a hollow clanking that could be heard just above the roar of the crowd. And oh [...]